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  “Let’s hope you’re right. Whether they do or not, I plan to stay in Creede and work in the library as long as the town will have me. I have been run out of one town, I’ve decided I won’t let that happen again. This afternoon I was ready to run away, but after hearing Mister Satterfield and Delia stand up for me, I’m staying,” Meg declared as the waitress set their plates on the table.

  Leer smiled at his beautiful supper companion and wondered how easy it would be for him to leave town. He might stay long enough to see if he and Meg shared feelings.

  Chapter 13

  Two weeks later…

  Meg and Delia finished the filling lunch of ham, cheese, bread, and spiced peaches Delia brought to the barn. Delia commented on how often Meg shared her lunch with Leer and the suppers they shared. “He hardly stops over at our house for supper anymore. I suppose I should invite you both.”

  Meg blushed but agreed. “We do enjoy our time together. It would be easy to lose my heart, but he does plan to leave for San Francisco in a few months.”

  “Men change their plans for the love of a good woman,” Delia insisted.

  Meg wiped her mouth with her napkin and checked the time on the small watch pinned to her bodice and said, “Thank you, Delia. That was delicious, but I should go back to work before Wes wonders if he hired me as a librarian or a companion for you.”

  Delia laughed, “You can’t hire friendship, and that is what you are, my friend.”

  “As you are mine, but I’m not sure if Wes would understand.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  Meg added, “First, I need to run out to the privy and then get back to my book lists.” She slipped on her coat and hurried out into the cold but brightly sunny afternoon toward the back of the barn.

  A few minutes later, Meg stepped out of the outhouse and felt a hand cover her mouth and another slip around her waist and held her tightly. A male voice she recognized as Percy’s whispered in her ear, “Don’t scream and don’t struggle. I’m stronger than you. We’re leaving on my horse. You can ride sitting up, or I can knock you out, and you can ride laying across the saddle, but either way, you’re coming with me.”

  Meg didn’t listen and struggled with all her might, but Percy was right. He was too strong for her, and she soon found herself riding away from the barn and safety on the back of Percy’s horse.

  “Why are you doing this?” Meg asked.

  “Quiet,” Percy growled. “I don’t want anyone to hear us,” he answered as he kicked the horse into a lope headed for the trees along the side of the barn.

  Meg quieted, but her mind raced with ways to try and get away from Percy. What on earth was he thinking of dragging her away? Did he believe this would change her heart or did he think he could force her into marriage by keeping her away from town for a few days? Tongues might wag, but she would never marry Percy no matter what he did or said.

  Delia finished packing up the lunch plates and thought, Meg’s been outside for quite some time. I hope she didn’t slip on the snow and ice. She grabbed her coat and walked out and headed for the privy. Nothing seemed amiss, and the door to the privy was closed.

  Worried about disturbing Meg’s privacy, Delia stopped several feet away and called Meg’s name. She tried calling twice more before she moved to the privy and knocked on the door. When she didn’t receive an answer, she cautiously opened the door a bit and peeked in. It was empty. Confused, Delia looked around outside wondering where Meg had gone. She spotted Meg’s bodice watch lying on the ground a few feet from the privy. The pin was bent, and Delia knew that Meg would never toss it away. It was the only thing Meg had left of her mothers’ that her aunt hadn’t sold.

  Delia scooped the watch up in her hand, lifted her skirts, and ran as fast as she dared back to the side door of the barn. She burst through the door yelling, “Wes, Leer, come quick. I think something’s happened to Meg.”

  Both men had been discussing plans when they heard Delia calling to them. They hurried across the barn to her side where she quickly explained what happened.

  “I don’t like the sound of this,” said Leer. “Where would she go on her own without telling any of us?”

  Wes agreed and said, “Let’s go out and see if we can find anything that might tell us where Meg went.”

  Both men, followed by Delia, hurried out to the privy and walked around looking at the ground for any signs that Meg had left in any direction except town.

  Leer said, “There are so many tracks back here from deliveries, and it’s hard to tell where any of them lead or if Meg made them. I know she wouldn’t have just taken off on her own. She’s much too responsible. I think something has happened, but I don’t know what.”

  Delia’s hand flew to her chest, and she said, “You don’t suppose this is Percy’s doing do you? He was quite upset with Meg when she told him she didn’t want to marry him or ever see him again after what happened in the barn the other day. She confided in me that he told her she would be his wife one way or another and that she was frightened of him.”

  Wes was quiet for a moment as he contemplated what course of action to take. He finally spoke, “Delia, I want you to go home, take the buggy, lock the doors, and stay inside. I’ll ride to town and see if anyone has seen Percy today and speak to the sheriff. Leer, if you can, take your horse and ride out a bit and see if you can find any tracks, human or horse, that might tell us where Meg has gone or what has happened to her. If Delia’s suspicions are correct and Percy took her, they could be anywhere. We’ll need help to find her.”

  Delia reluctantly agreed saying, “I understand why you’re sending me home and why I should lock the doors, but I really wish I could do more to help.”

  Wes held her close and said, “I know you’re worried and frightened for Meg, but the best you can do right now is to stay safe and perhaps put on a big pot of stew and keep the coffee hot. We’re going to find her I promise and when we do, she’s most likely going to be cold and hungry. Having something good to eat will help all of us.”

  Leer was already saddling his horse when Delia left with the buggy. Wes walked up to Leer and said, “If Delia’s suspicions are true then Meg’s in trouble and some danger. Percy seems obsessed with her, and I don’t think he’ll hurt her physically, but wherever he’s taken her, she will not be comfortable and happy. We need to find her soon before he has a chance to move her somewhere we can’t find.”

  Wes quickly mounted his horse and followed Delia down the road toward their home. Leer walked his horse from the small stable behind the barn and studied the landscape wondering which way Meg would go if she were on foot or which way Percy would take her if he were on horseback. Everything in him screamed that Percy had her and he didn’t know where to start. Leer’s anger grew until it began to cloud his judgment. He had to find her. He turned around in a full circle one last time to see if he missed anything and saw Mister Thistlewaite standing near the back of the barn.

  “What are you doing lurking out here,” Leer demanded.

  “I’m here to help,” answered the elderly man.

  “Help with what? We don’t need more employees. I’m rather busy, come back tomorrow,” Leer snarled not realizing how his anger was consuming him.

  Mister Thistlewaite walked up to Leer and placed his hand on Leer’s arm. “I’m here to help you find Miss Meg.”

  As soon as Mister Thistlewaite touched Leer’s arm, his anger abated, and a strong determination took his place.

  “I’m sorry. Meg has disappeared but how would you know that? Wes couldn’t have made it to town and how did you get here? Did you walk, sir? You’ll catch your death, and you still don’t have a coat.”

  Mister Thistlewaite smiled, “I told you I don’t need a coat. Now, if you’ll listen to me, son, I can assist you in your dilemma.”

  Leer blew out a breath and asked, “How? You don’t even know what occurred here today. I’m not sure I know.”

  Nodding his head slow
ly up and down, Mister Thistlewaite answered, “But I do know what occurred and I can tell you what direction Percy took when he left here with Miss Meg.”

  Leer stood there slack-jawed for a moment before he asked, “How do you know? Where did they go? Was she all right? Did he hurt her?”

  “Meg is all right at the moment. Percy didn’t hurt her, but he did force her to accompany him. If you travel along the edge of the trees, you’ll find a seldom used trail about three-hundred yards from here. Follow it. Eventually, you’ll end up in a small clearing with a small shack. She’s there but be quiet and be careful. Percy can be dangerous,” Mister Thistlewaite explained.

  “Thank you,” Leer said just before climbing onto his horse. He turned back to ask the strange little man another question, but he was gone.

  “Just who is that man?” Leer mumbled as he rode toward the edge of the trees. “How can he come and go so quickly? Wes has told me some strange things occur here, and people have seen angels, but angels glow and are dressed in white robes not morning coats and top hats.”

  After some careful scrutiny, Leer found a path he hoped was the correct one and wondered once again how Mister Thistlewaite knew it was there.

  Chapter 14

  Leer followed the path and came to the edge of the clearing Mister Thistlewaite said he’d find. He slid off his horse and tied him to a nearby tree. Walking through the trees to the back of the shack, Leer was relieved to find there were no windows on the rear of the ramshackle building.

  He walked as quietly as possible to the back of the shack and took a deep breath and exhaled when he heard Meg’s voice. He could tell she was angry and not hurt.

  “Do you expect to get away with this? This is abduction. Do they hang people in Colorado for abduction? I know they do in some states and territories. If not, I am sure you will serve time in prison. If you let me go now, I won’t say a word about you taking me,” Meg continued her nervous dialogue.

  “Shut up,” Percy yelled. “You aren’t going anywhere. After we stay here a week, people will practically force you to marry me. You won’t have a choice.”

  “If you touch me, I will do something a lady usually doesn’t, I’m not sure, but I am stronger than I look. How will you convince anyone I came here voluntarily if you have a broken nose or a lot of bruises?” Meg yelled back.

  Leer bit back a smile knowing this was not a humorous situation but realizing that Meg was holding her own and Percy didn’t sound happy. Peeking around the corner, he saw a window and crouched low as he passed under it. The front of the shack had a door and small window. He could get to the door without anyone seeing him unless they were standing at the window. He wondered if the door was locked and decided it didn’t matter. He hadn’t worked hard all his life without gaining a lot of strength. Today he’d need it.

  Leer heard Percy again, “I don’t plan on touching you, and I won’t hurt you unless you try to run and then I’ll tie you up. There’s time for romance once we’re married.”

  “Romance,” Meg shouted. “You think this is romantic?”

  “No, not with you hollering at me. Once we’re married and settled in our cabin, life will be different. Happy and romantic. I promise.”

  Meg’s voice grew serious, and she spoke slow and precise. “That will never happen. I will never marry you regardless of what you tell people. I will leave town before I marry you.”

  “Stop being dramatic, Meg. You’ll marry me, and we may leave Creede. You need to rely on me, not your friends. A simple mountain cabin away from people will be a better idea.”

  “I’ll die before I allow you to drag me off to some isolated mountain cabin.”

  Before Percy could answer, Leer lifted his foot and kicked the locked door only it wasn’t locked. It bounced open, slammed against the wall, and flew back at Leer. He lifted his foot again and kept the door from hitting him.

  Percy, who had been pacing the small room, jumped at the sound of the door crashing in and spun to see who entered. His face paled when he saw Leer and wished he had brought a gun. If he had to fight the burly Irishman, he’d lose badly.

  Meg was sitting at a small table wide-eyed holding a cup of coffee in her hands.

  “Beals,” Leer shouted. “I’m here to take Meg home and don’t try to stop me. Men are coming from town, and you’ll be arrested soon.”

  Percy grabbed Meg and yanked her to her feet. “Stay away, and I won’t hurt her.”

  “You hurt her, and it’ll be the last thing you do,” Leer scowled.

  Percy pushed Meg at Leer and shot for the door so quickly Leer couldn’t grab him. Meg screamed, and Leer held her to keep her from falling to the floor. By the time he steadied Meg on her feet, they heard a horse gallop off.

  Leer ran outside and saw Percy disappear into the trees. He returned to the shack and said, “I was telling the truth about men coming from town. Wes went to get help. They’ll be here soon and can chase Percy. I’m not leaving you alone,” Leer told Meg as he pulled her close.

  Meg looked up at Leer and said, “Thank you for coming. I didn’t think anyone saw Percy take me. I can’t believe he thought he could keep me here and force me to marry him. I would never have married him. He’s a cruel, nasty man, but the town would believe him.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered if he kept you here for a week or a month and it doesn’t matter what the town would think or anything people might say,” Leer said as he held her close.

  “But it does, you know that,” Meg insisted.

  “No,” Leer answered back quickly. “Because no one would ever dare speak unkindly about my wife.”

  “Wife?”

  “Wife,” Leer whispered before he drew her in for a long kiss.

  “Wait,” Meg said and pulled back. “We can’t marry. You’re leaving for San Francisco. I’m staying here. I’m the new librarian. I’m not sure if librarians can marry. Miss Ingrid was single. Oh, my goodness, I don’t see how this can work.”

  Leer looked deeply into her eyes and asked, “Do you love me?”

  Meg’s eyes filled with tears. “With my entire heart.”

  “Then nothing is impossible. I love you, too with all that I am. We’ll build a house next to the library. I’ll keep working for Wes. He offered me a permanent position.”

  “But San Francisco? The warmth? You won’t be happy here, and I can’t be the cause of your unhappiness,” Meg replied as her tears spilled down her cheeks.

  “Someone told me you can find warmth anywhere and I finally understand what he meant. The sun may warm the body, but love warms the heart and you warm mine. That’s more important than all the sunshine. You are my sun, Meg, and always will be. Please marry me,” Leer pleaded.

  “Yes, oh yes,” Meg replied and threw her arms around Leer’s neck.

  Before he could kiss her again, they heard horses stop outside the shack. Leer walked out and saw Wes and three men from town.

  “Meg’s safe,” Leer explained. “Percy disappeared on horseback through the trees behind the cabin.

  Wes nodded and told Leer, “Take Meg to my house. Delia is worried sick. We’ll go after Percy, and I’ll come home when we find him, or it gets too dark to search.”

  “I will, and we’ll wait for you,” Leer agreed.

  Delia ran down the front steps of her porch when she saw Leer rein up with Meg on the horse with him.

  “Come inside and get warm. I’m so happy to see you. I was worried. I baked a cake, some cookies, and finished the roast I started this morning. I have a lot of food. I like to cook and bake when I’m nervous,” Delia stammered as she pulled Meg toward the porch.

  “I’ll be in as soon as I take care of my horse,” Leer said to the two women who weren’t listening to him. He smiled as he watched them enter the house. Meg was safe, and that was all that mattered.

  Two hours later, the front door opened, and Wes walked in.

  Delia jumped to her feet and ran to her husband. “I was so worried, but y
ou’re home safe. Meg is safe, and she and Leer are getting married. Meg was worried that librarians can’t marry the way school teachers can’t, but I told her not to worry. You’d make sure the town understands, and everything will be all right,” Delia rambled without taking a breath.

  Wes hugged his wife and agreed. “Yes, it’ll all work out. Congratulations, Meg and Leer.”

  Meg rose to her feet and wrung her hands. “Did you find Percy? Will he be able to come after me again?”

  “Yes, and no,” Wes began. “We followed his tracks through the trees to a small clearing at the edge of a deep ravine. We don’t know if his horse threw him or he fell, but we saw him at the bottom of the ravine. It’s about a forty-foot drop. I doubt he survived. One of the men went back to town to get a long rope, and they’re going to retrieve him. I hurried back here to let you know and keep you from worrying. Someone will stop later and tell me what happened.”

  Meg dropped back onto her chair. “This is sad. It isn’t the outcome I would ever want. Why couldn’t Percy understand I didn’t want to marry him. He’d still be alive.”

  Leer hugged her and Delia insisted they sit down and eat. “We have all had a hard day, and while you may not think you’re hungry, you are. Sit, and we’ll eat. You need nourishment, and I cooked and baked enough for twice as much as I needed.”

  Wes drew his wife into his arms and kissed her. “You are just as upset as the rest of us. Come on, I’ll help you put supper on the table after I wash up.”

  “I can help,” Meg insisted popping to her feet. “I can’t just sit here either.”

  The four friends did their best to enjoy dinner and relax after the harrowing day. Delia’s supper eased their tensions, and the chocolate cake made them all smile. An hour after they finished their questions were answered when one of the men that had accompanied Wes on the search for Percy arrived and gave them the grim news. Percy would never bother anyone again.